The South African Reserve Bank has raised its benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 7%, breaking a run of stability as a deepening Middle East crisis drives oil prices higher and reignites inflation. The increase, effective 29 May, was backed by four members of the monetary policy committee, with two favouring no change,…
The United States Treasury Department announced sanctions Wednesday on Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, the new Tehran agency that collects fees for traveling through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent…
Following a brief phase of unannounced public testing, Meta has officially launched a premium, subscription-based ecosystem across its core social platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Operating under the newly established Meta One brand, a unified division built to manage the company’s experimental monthly payment structures, these “Plus” tiers introduce exclusive analytics, advanced messaging capabilities, and…
A former senior Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official has been accused of criminal theft of public money after hundreds of gold bars worth more than $40m were found hidden in his home. David Rush, the former official, was arrested on May 19, according to a joint statement released by the CIA and Federal Bureau of…
Yoco has snapped up Dyner.ai. Fintech firm Yoco has acquired Dyner.ai, an AI-native operating system built for restaurants and independent businesses, for an undisclosed amount. In a statement, the company says the acquisition marks a step in Yoco’s evolution from a payments company into a broader commerce and operations platform for independent businesses. It notes…
Nairobi – France came to Nairobi last week with a message it has been trying to land for years: that it wants to be Africa’s partner, not its patron. At the Africa Forward summit in May, Emmanuel Macron made that case again. Not everyone was convinced. On the second floor of the Kenyatta International Convention…
Independent gemstone and jewellery verification is becoming a key differentiator for jewellers as buyers prioritise trust, authenticity and proven value. South Africa’s jewellery industry is changing, not just in how pieces look, but in how they are bought and trusted. While demand for fine, and bespoke jewellery continues to grow, driven by luxury consumption, investment…
During my years working in Malawi’s health system – from clinician and public health officer to leading national public health programmes, and now as Minister of Health – I have seen firsthand how neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) shape people’s lives. I have sat with patients in our hospitals, spoken with families in rural communities, and…
In an aerial view, a Valero refinery is seen on May 5, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images Oil prices rose on Thursday after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran renewed concerns over disruptions to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, were up around 3% to $97.16…
A quantum computer built by IBM IBM will invest more than US$10-billion in coming years in an effort to deliver the first large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029, according to an SEC filing on Thursday. The investment will go towards R&D, capital expenditure, scaling manufacturing capabilities and acquisitions, the company known for building the Watson…
